Name/Title
Swiss Model 1889 Schmidt–RubinEntry/Object ID
FL-75-828Description
The artifact is an original, full-length military bolt-action service rifle utilizing the innovative straight-pull action designed by Rudolf Schmidt, paired with a detachable box magazine system engineered by Eduard Rubin.
Action Type: Straight-pull, linear-cycle bolt operation utilizing a helical cam sleeve driven by a dual-bearing operating rod. Features a distinctive rear-mounted locking lug configuration and a large circular manual cocking ring piece.
Feed System: 12-round capacity, double-column detachable steel box magazine. The magazine body features three vertical witness holes on the right and left for visual capacity verification.
Magazine Cutoff: Mechanically operational. A thumb-actuated, horizontally ribbed slider mechanism allows the entire magazine housing to drop slightly below the feed line, rendering the firearm a single-loader while retaining a 12-round reserve.
Sights: Elevation-adjustable Quadrant Sight system. The sight bed and flipping leaf are graduated from 400 to 2000 meters, specific to the ballistics of the early GP90 cartridge.
Furniture: Full-length European walnut stock with a matching upper handguard, secured via a spring-steel barrel band and an integrated nose cap with a built-in stacking rod (piling swivel). Features distinct grasping grooves on both sides of the fore-end.
Operating Controls: The bolt handles are fitted with their original, matching twin cylindrical knobs composed of reddish-brown vulcanized rubber (vulcanite/ebonite).Firearm Type
RifleContext
This specimen represents a highly complete, numbers-matching example of Switzerland's first-generation straight-pull military rifle, manufactured at the federal arsenal in Bern during the peak era of late 19th-century European arms development. While its military markings detail its origin in Swiss federal service, its secondary markings provide excellent regional provenance within Canada. The presence of the crisp, early accession number 129 indicates that this rifle was one of the earliest foundational pieces acquired by Fred Light, the renowned historian and founder of the Fred Light Museum in Battleford, Saskatchewan. The artifact stands as a beautifully preserved link between late-Victorian military engineering and iconic mid-20th-century Canadian heritage preservation.Acquisition
Source (if not Accessioned)
Town of BattlefordNotes
Accession Date: 01/01/75Firearm Detail
Model
Model Name
Swiss Model 1889 Schmidt–RubinManufacturer
Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik (Federal Arms Factory), Bern, SwitzerlandCaliber
7.5×53.5mm Swiss GP90Action
Bolt ActionCartridge Capacity
12Finish Type
BluingSerial Number
161023Date Made
1893Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
Receiver Marking, EngravingNotes
Primary Serialization (161023): Stamped on the left-hand barrel shank and the adjacent receiver ring. The matching full serial number is also present on the top flat of the forward bolt sleeve.
Component Assembly Proofs (023 / 23): Partial matching serial indicators stamped to ensure hand-fitted factory alignment. Stamped 023 on the left side of the rear sight cursor, the right side of the sight leaf, and the sight ramp base. Stamped 23 on the heel tang of the steel buttplate.
Federal Marks: Crisp Swiss Federal Cross acceptance stamps are located on the barrel shank, receiver, bolt components, handguard wood, and the flat neck of the metal operating arm.
Barrel Proofs: Stamped with a prominent dimensional numeral 8 on the upper barrel shank, accompanied by small inspector letter codes (M and V) and a circular BP (Beschuss-Probe) definitive high-pressure proof-firing stamp.
Provenance / Accession Stamp: Stamped 129 on the upper receiver tang. This is an official, pre-1975 institutional cataloging code assigned by foundational Western Canadian firearms historian and museum founder Fred Light.Dimensions
Length
51-5/16 inWeight
9-13/16 lbBarrel Length
30-11/16 inOther Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
SerialOther Number
161023Location
Location
Display Cabinet
TF-FR-N12Room
Firearms RoomBuilding
Fred Light MuseumDate
June 29, 2026Room
Firearms RoomBuilding
Fred Light MuseumCondition
Overall Condition
GoodNotes
Metalwork: Good, unaltered condition. Displays an honest, aged service patina with minor, uniform surface mottling consistent with historical handling and storage. Edges and stamps remain sharp; no evidence of destructive wire-wheeling or modern re-bluing.
Mechanics: Fully functional. Bolt cycle, trigger assembly, quadrant sight slider, and magazine cutoff mechanism operate smoothly through their full mechanical parameters.
Woodwork: Very good condition. The European walnut retains its original oil-rubbed finish and tight grain alignment. Free of sporterization or modern sanding. A stress fracture is noted at the upper right corner of the buttplate.
Magazine Status: Period-authentic, arsenal-interchanged magazine bearing serial number 131151 (coincidentally manufactured within the identical 1893 production year block).Create Date
April 22, 2026Updated By
Justin M. MillerUpdate Date
August 31, 2026
